Unions declare strike alert in support of teachers

The Czech Confederation of Trade Unions has declared a strike alert in
support of teachers unions, who announced a similar move on Tuesday. The
president of the confederation, Josef Středula, informed journalists of
the decision on Wednesday.

The national union body is demanding a pay rise of 15 percent for
educators and 10 percent for other public sector workers from November. The
Social Democrats’ leader, Bohuslav Sobotka, has expressed support for
such increases but Finance Minister Ivan Pilný of coalition partners ANO
says the state lacks the funds to cover them.

Meanwhile, the Czech Conference of Rectors has announced a Week for
Education at the start of October to highlight their demand for greater
funding for universities in next year’s budget.